As Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc: Part 1 Akaza Strikes Again continues to dominate the Japanese box office—raking in a staggering ¥12.8 billion (approx. RM3.78 billion) within just 10 days of release—its massive popularity has sparked more than just sold-out theaters. A recent incident in Japan has gone viral after a grandmother was left in shock upon learning that her granddaughter was named after one of the anime’s villainous characters.
According to Japanese site Otakomu News, the grandmother, who admitted to never having watched Demon Slayer, was immediately puzzled by the name “Daki.” Her concern deepened when she discovered that the character Daki is portrayed as a violent and manipulative antagonist who previously worked in the red-light district.
“I feel so sorry for my granddaughter,” the distressed grandmother reportedly said. “Even the character’s own brother, Gyutaro, hated that name—how could my daughter and her husband give that name to a child?”
To make matters worse, the couple allegedly plan to name their soon-to-be-born twins after other characters from the same anime, further intensifying the grandmother’s anxiety. She expressed fears that the children might suffer bullying or emotional distress in the future because of their names.
While anime-inspired baby names are not unheard of in Japan, this case has sparked a broader conversation about the cultural implications and responsibilities tied to naming children after fictional—and in this case, villainous—characters.
